An Orthodox activist, right, reacts with a gay rights campaigner, during a protest outside of State Duma, Russian Parliament's lower chamber, in downtown Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. A federal law banning "homosexual propaganda" has been submitted to the Duma late last year and hailed by officials and Russia's dominant Orthodox Church. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (The Associated Press)

Gay rights campaigners kiss each other during a protest outside of State Duma, Russian Parliament's lower chamber, in downtown Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. A federal law banning "homosexual propaganda" has been submitted to the Duma late last year and hailed by officials and Russia's dominant Orthodox Church. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (The Associated Press)

MOSCOW – Militant Orthodox activists have attacked members of Russia's embattled gay community protesting against a planned law banning "gay propaganda".

Russia's Parliament is to consider a federal law that makes public events and dissemination of information on the LGBT community to minors punishable by fines of up to $16,000. Lawmakers, officials and Russia's dominant Orthodox church have hailed the law saying it will boost Russia's dwindling birth rates.

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A dozen LGBT rights campaigners gathered Tuesday in front of the parliament building in Moscow to protest the law by kissing each other. But a similar number of young men interrupted the protest, assaulting the campaigners, taking away and tearing down their posters and shouting obscenities at them.